Squad news

THE FOUR SPOTS AT THE CENTRE OF THE DEFENCE

31 Jul 2010Lotina said to Aythami that he will stay at the first squad for the new season; apparently the Canarian would join Lopo and Colotto at the centre of the defense, but Lotina said later that he hasn’t decided yet who’s going to play.

Coach Miguel Angel Lotina has told to central defender Aythami Artiles (24) that he’s going to stay at Depor’s first team ahead of the season 2010/11. It was something confirmed by the same Canarian player during a press conference, “The coach told me yesterday that I´m staying and I’m very happy for it, now it’s time to gain a place and let’s see what happens. I returned in order to stay and let’s hope I would be able to play all my life at Deportivo.”

Aythami barely played at Depor after arriving coming from UD Las Palmas, but the Canarian has earned his place at Deportivo’s first team after completing two solid seasons at Xérez CD; firstly playing in 37 of the 42 Segunda games on the season 2008/09 scoring four goals, and later completing 30 of 38 possible appearances during the short adventure of Xérez at Primera División (season 2009/10, Aythami also scored two goals on the liga competition).

Apparently the decision was giving a strong hint about who will cover three of the four spots reserved for the central defenders. This taking in mind that Catalan Albert Lopo and Argentine Diego Colotto are pointed out as the starters at the beginning of la liga. However, on Friday the Basque coach told to reporters that nothing is for granted, “If there is an offer for a central defender, then we will study it. If Lopo only has one year of contract, and taking in mind he is free to go in June, what if someone gives us 10 million for him? Well, then the half goes to the Treasury, the other half for something else and to fix things. If a great offer arrives then he will leave. Selfishly, I don’t want to see that offer arriving, but you have to analyze things as a club and it isn’t the same to have a player with only one year of contract that somebody with a three-year deal.”

Later, the Basque man even explained why he had to talk to Aythami, “I have been forced to talk to Aythami, because until now the only proposals that we had were loans. His agent had called us and we had to stop it. We will only hear transfer offers."

It can be said that if Lopo, Colotto and Aythami are going to stay, then only one spot is still open for competition. The club has other three central defenders at the first squad: Adrian López ‘Piscu’, Ze Castro and David Rochela. Lotina has said that Piscu could have a spot if he returns, but that scenario isn’t probable, therefore the remaining spot should be for Rochela or Ze Castro. The Galician youngster has been recently promoted and should be the first one to be discarded as he can go out loaned to a Segunda A club, but the discomfort of the Portuguese defender might change the picture.

During the past season Ze Castro was unhappy with his role at the team as he barely played (only 704 minutes in liga), and taking in mind that he starts the new campaign with the signboard of ‘substitute’ it could mean that he could be pushing for an exit, actually the spokesman of the club, Rafael Carpacho, told to Riazor.org that the club is open to sell the ex-Atletico Madrid defender.

“Yes we are open for that possibility, but for the moment there’s nothing. These are things rumoured by the papers, but until we don’t have a concrete offer we won’t say anything. We even could have the scenario of keeping both (Ze Castro and Rochela), because in case we have an injury with Colotto or Lopo, then we will need them, and even if we don’t have an injury the coach might be tempted to have all of them at the squad, but those are decisions that Lotina must assume.” He said.

However, the media in Galicia believes that Lotina will only keep four central defenders at the squad, and that the only way in which Rochela would stay is if Ze Castro is sold. So far Lendoiro has assured that the club hasn’t received any offer for the Portuguese, but his name has been linked with SL Benfica, this since the Portuguese club is studying the possibility of selling David Luiz, a central defender that has been linked with Manchester City and Real Madrid. Sporting Lisbon was also interested in the player at the end of the past season.